Kansas Vape-Free Schools Toolkit
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Kansas Vape-Free Schools Toolkit Updated March 2020 Resist and this publication are supported in part by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the Tobacco Free Kansas Coalition. This publication was supported in part by the Grant or Cooperative Agreement number DP005993, funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the Department of Health and Human Services. Table of Contents Introduction.................................................................................................1-9 Effectiveness of Comprehensive Tobacco-Free School Policies................3 Youth Tobacco Use in Kansas..............................................................4 Youth Vaping and Mental Health in Kansas..........................................6 Roadmap to Achieving Tobacco-Free and Vape-Free Schools............... 8 Star Ranking System...........................................................................9 Responding to Common Questions About the Policy..............................10 Reviewing and Strengthening Your Current Policy...........................................12-16 Checklist for Model Tobacco-Free and Vape-Free School Policy............ 12 Timeline for Policy Adoption................................................................13 KSDE Policy Recommendation.............................................................14 Vape and Tobacco Education....................................................................... 15-18 For Students.......................................................................................15 For Adults..........................................................................................18 Communication Tools and Signage............................................................... 19-25 Communicating Your Vape-Free School Policy......................................19 Tobacco-Free and Vape-Free School Signage......................................21 Sample Documents.............................................................................22 Policy Compliance and Enforcement............................................................. 26 Cessation Support....................................................................................... 27-28 For Students.......................................................................................27 For Adults..........................................................................................28 Youth Engagement and RESIST..................................................................... 29-30 Resist-101..........................................................................................29 Establishing a Resist Chapter...............................................................30 More Information and Resources.................................................................. 31 Sources.......................................................................................................32 Kansas Vape-Free Schools Toolkit Table of Contents introduction Creating Tobacco-Free and What is a Tobacco-Free and Vape-Free Schools Vape-Free School? This Kansas Vape-Free Schools Toolkit is a A comprehensive tobacco-free and vape-free guide to help your school or school district school policy prohibits: become tobacco-free and e-cigarette-free. This Toolkit contains information and resources to ALL types of tobacco products, help your school effectively implement, clearly communicate, regularly enforce and support a including e-cigarettes, for truly tobacco-free and e-cigarette-free campus. This resource is brought to you by Resist, ALL students, staff, and visitors a youth-led, state-wide tobacco prevention program. Resist’s initiative is to help all Kansas on schools implement 100% comprehensive tobacco-free and vape-free policies. This type of policy is critical to creating tobacco-free and ALL school grounds, in school vape-free learning environments for students. vehicles, and at school sponsored events WELCOME TO OUR TOBACCO-FREE AT ALL TIMES. SCHOOL In addition to adopting a comprehensive policy, schools should also make sure the policy is SMOKING communicated to students, staff, and visitors VAPING with clear and visible signage. Schools are DIPPING encouraged to include additional prevention NO elements into their policies, such as establishing a Resist chapter; integrating evidence-based vape and tobacco education into the school’s c h e w health education curriculum and staff training; consistent enforcement and consequences in place for violations; and having tobacco For help quitting, call 1-800-QUIT-NOW or visit KSQuit.org. cessation resources available for both students and staff. More suggestions for additional elements can be found on page 10. Kansas Vape-Free Schools Toolkit 1 Introduction Utilizing this Toolkit The tools provided will help you educate your peers about the dangers of using tobacco and vape products, alert your school administration about the evidence-based practices for maintaining a healthy school environment, and advocate for comprehensive tobacco-free and vape-free school policies. In this Toolkit you will find: • A checklist to evaluate your current or proposed tobacco-free and vape-free school policy • Model policies • Communications tools such as flyers, sample letters, and sample announcements • Information about starting a Resist chapter in your school or community • And more! Where do I start? The “Roadmap to Achieving Tobacco-Free and Vape-Free Schools” on page 8 is a great place to start! Whether your school has an existing tobacco policy that you think should be improved or your school doesn’t have a policy on tobacco use, start with the “Checklist for Model Tobacco-Free Policy” on page 12 and the KSDE Policy Recommendation on page 14. Use these tools to identify how the policy and your school environment could be improved, or to show your administration what a comprehensive tobacco-free and vape-free school policy should look like. From there, speak with your school principal or someone from the school board to determine their thoughts on improving the policy. If they seem uninterested, don’t be discouraged! Work on spreading the word to get more students and staff on board. Check out the “Timeline for Policy Adoption” on page 11 for help determining the best time frame for educational campaigns and proposing your new policy. Hang posters, hold an awareness event, present to your school board and make your case for the need for a comprehensive tobacco-free and vape-free school policy. Don’t forget about support from people and businesses in the community! Places like grocery stores and local shops will often hang up flyers and may even contribute to your event if you ask. My school implemented a policy! Now what? Congratulations! Go to tinyurl.com/KDHE-tobacco-signage to upload a copy of your policy and order free signs from KDHE (limited supply available). Kansas Vape-Free Schools Toolkit 2 Introduction Effectiveness of Comprehensive Tobacco-Free School Policies Tobacco-free and vape-free school policies are one way to address the increasing popularity of e-cigarettes and other vaping devices among youth. Tobacco-free and vape-free schools provide decreased exposure to secondhand smoke, an opportunity for positive role modeling, and protection from youth developing an addiction to nicotine. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) describes a comprehensive school-based program in its “Guidelines for School Health Programs to Prevent Tobacco Use and Addiction.” The first guideline recommends that schools develop and enforce policies to prohibit tobacco use by students, staff, parents, and visitors on school grounds; in school vehicles; and at all school- sponsored events, on or off school property. The other guidelines include cessation support for both students and staff and involvement of parents or families in preventing tobacco use by youth. Comprehensive Tobacco-Free and Vape-Free School Policies: • Have been proven effective in preventing youth tobacco use • Provide prevention education during the years when the risk of becoming addicted to tobacco and nicotine is the greatest • Provide a tobacco-free environment that establishes non-use of tobacco as a norm and offers opportunities for positive role modeling • Can help prevent the use of other drugs, especially if the program also addresses the use of these substances • Protect school property and prevent damage from secondhand smoke and cigarette butt fires Kansas Vape-Free Schools Toolkit 3 Introduction Kansas Vape-Free Schools Toolkit 4 Introduction Kansas Vape-Free Schools Toolkit 5 Introduction Kansas Vape-Free Schools Toolkit 6 Introduction Kansas Vape-Free Schools Toolkit 7 Introduction Roadmap to Achieving Tobacco-Free and Vape-Free Schools 1. Assess Review the standards for a comprehensive policy, the Star Ranking System, and the Model Tobacco-Free School Policy. 2. Evaluate Compare your school’s policy with the guidelines from this Toolkit. 3. Advocate Talk to your peers, school administrators, and/or school board about the need for a stronger policy. 4. Pass a Policy! Celebrate your new policy and enjoy your tobacco-free and vape-free school! Kansas Vape-Free Schools Toolkit 8 Introduction Star Ranking System This ranking system is used to encourage Kansas school districts to strive for stronger tobacco-free